Decluttering for Productivity in 2024!
Clean space
As an entrepreneur I often look forward to the New Year because it is fresh, new, and completely unmuddied. I must admit, even though I am a detail-oriented person by nature, I can allow both my internal and external environment to become a quagmire in need of tidying up. Enter decluttering for the New Year! Just thinking about new books to read, projects to complete, dreams to chase brings renewed hope and excitement to my mind and heart.
What is decluttering?
Basically, it is putting things in order or back where you want them to be. It can also be removing what no longer holds value or meaning in your life. You might be thinking, “well, this is simple, and everyone knows that!”
Interestingly, your brain health can be affected by clutter. Many people can experience anxiety, depression, overwhelm, and dissatisfaction in life when clutter is a problem. We can’t think as clearly as we want when we are surrounded by too many things and too many tasks to do.
Clutter can also affect our mobility as we age, making it more difficult to manage our external environment. As I am aging gracefully, I have definitely seen the need for releasing “things” and clearing the literal walkway of my home environment.
Questions to ask yourself.
· How satisfied are you with your current living arrangements?
· What would you like to change in your environment?
· Where do you feel the most peaceful in your home?
· Where can you go in your home to find rest and relaxation?
Taking the time to listen to your own needs and exploring how you feel about home environment can be fruitful. Addressing the issue of a safe home environment is key to discovering how satisfied you may be feeling in life satisfaction.
I purposely chose to live in an area that sparks joy in my heart from the amazing mountain view out my windows, to the bike/walk trail outside my building, to the park I walk to almost every day overlooking the river. All of these amenities stir joy in my heart and soul.
Along with decluttering our external environment, one often overlooked cluttered area of human beings is our brain. While external clutter can impact our thoughts and emotions, too many “to do’s” can also cause overwhelm, creating a feeling of paralysis.
Brain Dumping
As the New Year was approaching, I was feeling anxiety about all the things I needed to do or complete before the time ran out in 2023. I knew exactly what I needed to do, a brain dump. Imagine sitting somewhere quiet with pen and paper and just allowing everything that is in your head to dump out. There are no rules. You can opt to use your computer to write your list, dictate the list, or use your phone. The point is you just let everything come out without censoring any of it.
My list had items on it that were bugging me like, hang up my stained-glass cardinal my son purchased for me, go through old receipts, fix the toilet hinge so it won’t make noise when I open it, and you get the idea! Whatever is on and in your head and has been there for several days or weeks, just write it down! Trust me, no one is looking or judging, well, maybe you!
You can give yourself a day or several but put a time limit on it and do not attempt to make a “to do list.” Once you have spent your allotted time dumping from your brain, you can spend some time determining categories to put things in.
How to Categorize Your Brain Dump
· What can you do easily?
· What do you want to do first?
· What can wait?
· How do you want to prioritize? One suggestion is to prioritize according to how much time you will need or whether it is fun or creative.
· What do you want to get rid of?
· Be creative in your approach!
I found an interesting video outlining some thoughtful steps here. Now that I have officially done my brain dump, I feel relieved of the burdens in my mind, and I am restful. Ultimately, one of the greatest treasures we have is peace of mind, isn’t it? Give it a try and see what you find out.
Sorrell J. M. (2020). Tidying Up: Good for the Aging Brain. Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 58(4), 16–18. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20200316-02
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/what-does-clutter-do-to-your-brain-and-body